Speed-reduction unit



Dec. 31, 1929.` f J. l.. ERlsMAN 1,741,551

SPEED REDUCTION UNIT Filed oct. 14. 192e 2 sheets-sheet 1 Dec. 3l, 1929. 1 ERISMAN 1,741,561

SPEED REDUCTION UNIT Filed Oct. 14. 1926 2 vSheets-Sheet 2 Patented Dec. 31, 1929 UNITED STATES vPATENT OFFICE JOHN L. ERISMAN, F OAK PARK, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO LINK-BELT COMPANY, OF

- CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS SPEED-REDUCTION UNIT Application filed October 14, 1926. Serial No. 141,466.

This invention relates to a speed reduction unit and to a housing therefor. In the form illustrated it is particularly adapted for use in driving screw conveyors. It is not limited to this use, however, and it has for one object to provide a compact housing which will support the reduction gearing and driving motor and a portion of the conveyor element.

Another object is to provide in connection with such aomechanism the features of ready accessibility and inspection. Other objects will appear from time to time throughout the specification and claims.

u My invention is illustrated more or less dil@ agrammatically in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a side elevation;

Figure 2 is an end elevation with parts in section;

Figure 3 is a horizontal section taken on line 8-3 of Fig. l;

Figure 4L is a generally horizontal section taken on line 4-4 of Figure 2;

Figure 5 is a detail in vertical section showing the belt tensioning mechanism;

Figure 6 is a modified form with parts in elevation and parts in section;

Figure 7 is a section taken on line 7 7 of Figure 6, showing the parts in elevation;

Figure 8 is a generally horizontal section taken on line 8-'8 of Figure 6;

Figure 9 is a generally horizontal section taken on line 9-9 of Figure 6.

Like parts are indicated by like characters throughout.

A is a foundation upon which the speed reduction unit and its housing is mounted an to which it is normally fastened by screws or bolts A1. Any other type of foundation might be substituted.

The speed reduction housing is formed of two halves B and C which are normally bolted together. The half B is provided with a laterally extending bottom or base portion B1 and it is this portion which is bolted to the foundation. The portion B has formed, pref erably integrally with it, a relatively short portion B2 within which a bushing'B3 is positioned. This serves as a bearing for one end of one of the shafts. B4 is a flat boss formed in the member B and provided with a bushing B5.

The portion C is provided with a laterally extending base portion C1, an integral boss C2, which includes a bushing C3, and a second integral boss C4 which encloses a bushing C5.

The two parts B and C of the housing are removably attached together by means of bolts D, and they are provided with generally fiat laterally extended upper surface portions BG and CG respectively, which are provided with threaded perforations.

E is a movable motor carrying plate provided with slots E1 E1, and a downwardly bent edge E2. E3 is a cavity formed partially in the member B and partially in the 1nember C. E4 is a bolt which has its head E5 located in such cavity and extends through a perforation in the downwardly bent portion .E2 of the plate E. E is a nut on the bolt.

F is a driving motor bolted to the plate E by means of bolts F1. The position of the motor on the top of the gear housing may be varied by sliding the plate, and this may be done by manipulating the bolt E4. When the plate has been moved to the proper position, the screws E7 are tightened and the plate is thus held in position. This is carried out in order to secure proper initialV adjustment of the motor and in order to secure re-adjust- Vment of the parts when that becomes necessary.

G is a shaft having its one end supported in a bearing B4 and its other end in a bearing 4. It is keyed on to a large gear G1. G2 is a motor shaft having keyed on it a pinion G2.

d G4 is a driving chain lpreferably of the silent chain type, extending about the pinion G3 and the gear G1. By means of this chain the gear G1 is driven from the motor. G5 is a removable housing enclosing the gear and pinion and the chain.

H is a shaft having one end supported in a bearing B2 and being supported intermediate its ends in the bearing C2. As here shown it has fitted over it and fastened to it the hollow shaft H1 of the conveyor about which is fastened the helical conveying portion H2. H3 is an enclosing housing in which the conveyor is positioned. H4 is a gear fastened on the shaft H and meshing with a pinion I fastened on the shaft G. By means of this pinion and gear, the shaft IFI and the conveyor which is attached to it are driven from the motor and a double speed reduction is provided.

In Figures 6, 7, 8, and 9 a modified form of the invention is shown. This form differs from that above described particularly in the fact that the housing for the reduction elements is split horizontally instead of vertically.

J is the lower section of the housing pro.- vided with lateral extensions J1L which are fastened to the foundation by the above 'mentioned screws A1. This housing has formed in it halves of bearings J2 J2 and J 3 J 3. It has formed within it the cavity J *l in which a portion of the gearing is positioned.

K is the upper half of the housing. It is provided adjacent its top with lateral extensions K1, and it has formed in its halves of bearings corresponding to the bearings J2 J 2, adapted to be joined to them to form complete bearings for the shafts of the speed reduction gearing which will be described below. An opening K2 is provided in the housing K and it is provided with a removable cover Ks by means of which the interior of the entire housing may be inspected.

L is a motor carrying plate similar to the plate E described above. It is provided with slots L1 Ll and carries a motor M which is fastened to it by means of screws M1 M1. It has a downwardly bent portion L2 within which is removably positioned a set screw L3 by means of which it may be moved. L'l L4 are screws or bolts by means of which the plate L is held in position after it has been properly adjusted on top of the housing.

N is a motor shaft carrying a pinion N1. C is a stub shaft mounted in the bearings J 2, carrying the gear O1 and the pinion O2. C3 is a chain passing about the pinion NL and the gear O1 by means of which the gear is driven from the motor. O4r is a housing enclosing the pinion and the gear and the chain.

P is a shaft mounted in bearings J3 and carrying a gear P1 which meshes with the pinion C2 on the shaft O. This shaft may extend laterally from the housing and may carry any type of power take-off, and any mechanism which it is desired to operate through the gearing above described.

Jlthough I have shown an operative device, still it will be obvious that many changes might be made in size, shape, and arrangements of parts without departing materially from the spirit of my invention; and I wish, therefore, that my showing be taken as in a sense diagrammatic.

I claim:

l. In combination in a gear reduction assembly, double reduction elements, including a driving motor, a shaft, and a driven shaft,

the driving motor carrying a pinion, the first mentioned shaft carrying a gear driven from such pinion and carrying also a second pinion, the driven shaft carrying a gear driven from such second pinion, and a housing enclosing the second pinion and driven gear and having formed within it bearings for the shaft and the driven shaft and serving as a support for the driving motor, adjustable means whereby thesame is mounted upon such housing, the housing being formed in two main portions, means for joining them together, suoli means including a motor carrying element, the same being adjustably mounted on the housing.

2. In combination in a gear reduction assembly, double reduction elements, including a driving motor, a shaft, and a driven shaft, the driving motor carrying a pinion, the first mentioned shaft carrying a gear driven from such pinion and carrying also a` second pinion, the driven shaft carrying a gear driven from such second pinion, and a housing enclosing the second pinion and driven gear and having formed within it bearings for the shaft and the driven shaft and serving as a support for the driving motor, adjustable means whereby the same is mounted upon such housing, the housing being formed in two main portions, means for joining them together, such means including a motor carrying element, the same being adjustably mounted on the housing, and an additional removable housing enclosing the driving motor pinion and the first mentioned gear.

Signed at Chicago, County of Cook and State of Illinois, this 27 th day of September,

JOHN L. ERISMAN. 

